Medium Voltage or High Voltage Circuit Breaker

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes first and second terminals, first and second interrupters, an interconnection part, an actuator, an operating rod, and a lever system. The first terminal is electrically connected to a fixed contact of the first vacuum interrupter. The second terminal is electrically connected to a fixed contact of the second vacuum interrupter. The interconnection part is configured to be in electrical connection with a movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter and the interconnection part is configured to be in electrical connection with a movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter. The interconnection part is configured to provide a current path between the movable contacts. In a transition from an open state to the closed state, the actuator is configured to move the operating rod to move the second end of the first non-linear lever arm and the second end of the second non-linear lever arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medium voltage or high voltage circuit breaker; comprising:
 a first terminal;   a second terminal;   a first vacuum interrupter;   a second vacuum interrupter;   an interconnection part;   an actuator;   an operating rod; and   a lever system;   wherein the first terminal is electrically connected to a fixed contact of the first vacuum interrupter, and wherein the second terminal is electrically connected to a fixed contact of the second vacuum interrupter;   wherein the interconnection part is configured to be in electrical connection with a movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter and the interconnection part is configured to be in electrical connection with a movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter, and wherein the interconnection part is configured to provide a current path between the movable contacts;   wherein a first end of a first non-linear lever arm of the lever system is coupled to a pushrod of the movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter at a first lever arm first end pivot point, and wherein a second end of the first lever arm is coupled to the operating rod at a center pivot point;   wherein a first end of a second non-linear lever arm of the lever system is coupled to a pushrod of the movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter at a second lever arm first end pivot point, and wherein a second end of the second lever arm is coupled to the operating rod at the center pivot point;   wherein a part at the first end of the first non-linear lever arm is supported by the interconnection part and can slide linearly within a slot of the interconnection part or a part at the first end of the first non-linear lever arm is supported by the interconnection part and can move linearly with respect to a bearing of the interconnection part;   wherein a part at the first end of the second non-linear lever arm is supported by the interconnection part and can slide linearly within a slot of the interconnection part or a part at the first end of the second non-linear lever arm is supported by the interconnection part and can move linearly with respect to a bearing of the interconnection part; and   wherein in a transition from an open state to the closed state the actuator is configured to move the operating rod to move the second end of the first non-linear lever arm and the second end of the second non-linear lever arm such that the part at the first end of the first non-linear lever arm and the part at the first end of the second non-linear lever arm move simultaneously within their corresponding slots away from one another or with respect to their corresponding bearings away from one another.   
     
     
         2 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the first non-linear lever arm comprises a first arm part connected to a second arm part, wherein the first arm part of the first non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the first non-linear lever arm, wherein an end of the first arm part is the first end of the first non-linear lever arm coupled to the pushrod of the movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter at the first lever arm first end pivot point, and wherein an end of the second arm part is the second end of the first lever arm coupled to the operating rod at the center pivot point; and wherein the second non-linear lever arm comprises a first arm part connected to a second arm part, wherein the first arm part of the second non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the second non-linear lever arm, wherein an end of the first arm part is the first end of the second non-linear lever arm coupled to the pushrod of the movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter at the second lever arm first end pivot point, and wherein an end of the second arm part is the second end of the second lever arm coupled to the operating rod at the center pivot point. 
     
     
         3 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 2 , wherein a length (a) of the first arm part of the first non-linear lever arm between the first end pivot point and the connection with the second arm part of the first non-linear lever arm is less than a length (b) of the second arm part of the first non-linear lever arm between the center pivot point and the connection with the first arm part of the first non-linear lever arm; and wherein a length (a) of the first arm part of the second non-linear lever arm between the first end pivot point and the connection with the second arm part of the second non-linear lever arm is less than a length (b) of the second arm part of the second non-linear lever arm between the center pivot point and the connection with the first arm part of the second non-linear lever arm. 
     
     
         4 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 2 , wherein the first arm part of the first non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the first non-linear lever arm at an obtuse angle; and wherein the first arm part of the second non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the second non-linear lever arm at an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         5 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 3 , wherein the first arm part of the first non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the first non-linear lever arm at an angle substantially equal to 90 degrees; and wherein the first arm part of the second non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the second non-linear lever arm at an angle substantially equal to 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the second non-linear lever arm is a mirror image of the first non-linear lever arm. 
     
     
         7 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the second non-linear lever arm is not a mirror image of the first non-linear lever arm; and/or the first vacuum interrupter is of a different design to the second vacuum interrupter. 
     
     
         8 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the interconnection part is configured to be in electrical connection with the movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter and the interconnection part is configured to be in electrical connection with the movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter during at least part of the transition from the open state to the closed state. 
     
     
         9 . The circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein in a transition from the closed state to the open state the actuator is configured to move the operating rod to move the second end of the first non-linear lever arm and the second end of the second non-linear lever arm such that the part at the first end of the first non-linear lever arm and the part at the first end of the second non-linear lever arm move simultaneously within their corresponding slots towards one another or with respect to their corresponding bearings towards one another. 
     
     
         10 . A drive for a medium voltage or high voltage circuit breaker, wherein the circuit breaker comprises:
 a first terminal,   a second terminal,   a first vacuum interrupter, and   a second vacuum interrupter,   wherein the first terminal is electrically connected to a fixed contact of the first vacuum interrupter, wherein the second terminal is electrically connected to a fixed contact of the second vacuum interrupter; and   wherein the drive comprises:   an interconnection part;   an actuator;   an operating rod; and   a lever system;   wherein the interconnection part is configured to be in electrical connection with a movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter and the interconnection part is configured to be in electrical connection with a movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter, and wherein the interconnection part is configured to provide a current path between the movable contacts;   wherein a first end of a first non-linear lever arm of the lever system is configured to couple to a pushrod of the movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter at a first lever arm first end pivot point, and wherein a second end of the first lever arm is coupled to the operating rod at a center pivot point;   wherein a first end of a second non-linear lever arm of the lever system is configured to couple to a pushrod of the movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter at a second lever arm first end pivot point, and wherein a second end of the second lever arm is coupled to the operating rod at the center pivot point;   wherein a part at the first end of the first non-linear lever arm is supported by the interconnection part and can slide linearly within a slot of the interconnection part or a part at the first end of the first non-linear lever arm is supported by the interconnection part and can move linearly with respect to a bearing of the interconnection part;   wherein a part at the first end of the second non-linear lever arm is supported by the interconnection part and can slide linearly within a slot of the interconnection part or a part at the first end of the second non-linear lever arm is supported by the interconnection part and can move linearly with respect to a bearing of the interconnection part;   wherein in a first transition the actuator is configured to move the operating rod in a first direction to move the second end of the first lever arm and the second end of the second lever arm such that the part at the first end of the first lever arm and the part at the first end of the second lever arm move simultaneously within their corresponding slots away from one another or with respect to their corresponding bearings away from one another; and   wherein in a second transition the actuator is configured to move the operating rod in a second direction opposite to the first direction to move the second end of the first non-linear lever arm and the second end of the second non-linear lever arm such that the part at the first end of the first non-linear lever arm and the part at the first end of the second non-linear lever arm move simultaneously within their corresponding slots towards one another or with respect to their corresponding bearings towards one another.   
     
     
         11 . The drive according to  claim 10 , wherein the first non-linear lever arm comprises a first arm part connected to a second arm part, wherein the first arm part of the first non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the first non-linear lever arm, wherein an end of the first arm part is the first end of the first non-linear lever arm coupled to the pushrod of the movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter at the first lever arm first end pivot point, and wherein an end of the second arm part is the second end of the first lever arm coupled to the operating rod at the center pivot point; and wherein the second non-linear lever arm comprises a first arm part connected to a second arm part, wherein the first arm part of the second non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the second non-linear lever arm, wherein an end of the first arm part is the first end of the second non-linear lever arm coupled to the pushrod of the movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter at the second lever arm first end pivot point, and wherein an end of the second arm part is the second end of the second lever arm coupled to the operating rod at the center pivot point. 
     
     
         12 . The drive according to  claim 11 , wherein a length (a) of the first arm part of the first non-linear lever arm between the first end pivot point and the connection with the second arm part of the first non-linear lever arm is less than a length (b) of the second arm part of the first non-linear lever arm between the center pivot point and the connection with the first arm part of the first non-linear lever arm; and wherein a length (a) of the first arm part of the second non-linear lever arm between the first end pivot point and the connection with the second arm part of the second non-linear lever arm is less than a length (b) of the second arm part of the second non-linear lever arm between the center pivot point and the connection with the first arm part of the second non-linear lever arm. 
     
     
         13 . The drive according to  claim 11 , wherein the first arm part of the first non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the first non-linear lever arm at an obtuse angle; and wherein the first arm part of the second non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the second non-linear lever arm at an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         14 . The drive according to  claim 11 , wherein the first arm part of the first non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the first non-linear lever arm at an angle substantially equal to 90 degrees; and wherein the first arm part of the second non-linear lever arm is angled to the second arm part of the second non-linear lever arm at an angle substantially equal to 90 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The drive according to  claim 10 , wherein the second non-linear lever arm is a mirror image of the first non-linear lever arm. 
     
     
         16 . The drive according to  claim 10 , wherein the second non-linear lever arm is not a mirror image of the first non-linear lever arm.